Ideas for new office

[PixelpeepS3]

Hi all,

looking for ideas on how to make the new offices (2 industrial units with warehouse and mezzanine floors with offices) that we've just moved into in Hertford
look a bit funky please?

Deffo don't want tacky so looking for what others have done. it's mainly for the staff, we have the occasional visitor/customer/supplier visiting so there's no reception area to use

As an example we've ordered some logo'd entrance mats and there is a breakout kitchen/rest room which we are thinking one wall with a vinyl forest print (centerparcs style) kind of thing.

Sorry to be vague, any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[User name]

Well... for a start, what does your company do?

[anonymous-user]

I'm sure the staff will be overwhelmed by logo'd doormats.

Why not spend the money on a good quality coffee machine instead? I'm sure that would be more appreciated?

[AMST09]

We do a lot of places with grass on the floor, fake trees, hanging baskets
Mix and match flooring
Coffee machine always goes down well
Feature lights

If you want a fitout speak to Accent Office Interiors obviously will cost more

[4x4Tyke]

Whiteboard walls, use the paint not the small expensive boards, useful in any business environment.

[RizzoTheRat]

Coffee machine, fridge with freezer compartment for ice-creams in hot weather, microwave for those who want to bring in their own lunch, dishwasher if you want to avoid people leaving dirty cups everywhere, space for people to eat their stinky food they've brought in from home without making the offices smell.

My last employers also had a TV in the kitchen area showing BBC news 24.

[Deesee]

PixelpeepS3 said:

Hi all,

looking for ideas on how to make the new offices (2 industrial units with warehouse and mezzanine floors with offices) that we've just moved into in Hertford
look a bit funky please?

Deffo don't want tacky so looking for what others have done. it's mainly for the staff, we have the occasional visitor/customer/supplier visiting so there's no reception area to use

As an example we've ordered some logo'd entrance mats and there is a breakout kitchen/rest room which we are thinking one wall with a vinyl forest print (centerparcs style) kind of thing.

Sorry to be vague, any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

A slide from the mezzanine to the ground floor!

Darts board/ table tennis/putting green.

Fake grass/Decking.

Proper coffee machine.

[PixelpeepS3]

Thanks for the replies, sorry i was a bit vague - it was early

Its a telecoms/copier business.

[surveyor]

4x4Tyke said:

Whiteboard walls, use the paint not the small expensive boards, useful in any business environment.

Heard of one business who did this with one wall in one of their breakout rooms. Forgot to tell the staff it was only on one wall.

They had to do the other walls pretty quickly....

[raddog]

Beanbags, definitely beanbags.

And a decent coffee machine, my workrate on Nespresso is twice that on Instant

[Frimley111R]

Lounge area where they can eat their dinner on colder days, a table to sit at to do this, some lounge chairs to relax in during breaks, pool table,...

[madmover]

Depends how many staff, what space you have to play with etc
get a good architect and put it to the team what they want

[Truckosaurus]

AMST09 said:

...
Coffee machine always goes down well...

As an office worker of many years the key thing is for the tea/coffee to be 'free', even if there is an honesty box or formal quid-a-week collection to cover milk and tea bags etc.

Other than that as long as there is decent heating and air conditioning then everything else is a gimmick.

[ooid]

Forget about beanbags, gadget-gizmos... Layout, light, ventilation (natural and mechanical), and heating arrangement all you need with a proper mini-kitchen





You can also PM me if you need professional help.

[joshcowin]

The architect above has obviously done some nice designs! We can provide the building service

Separate kitchen area, nothing worse than smelly lunches!

Nice toilets, that are easy to clean, well lit and heated.

Think about power supplies, future flexibility and lighting.

Flooring is important also.

[ATV]

ooid said:

Forget about beanbags, gadget-gizmos... Layout, light, ventilation (natural and mechanical), and heating arrangement all you need with a proper mini-kitchen





You can also PM me if you need professional help.

Holy sh*t that's a stunning looking office.

Do you mind if I ask how much it would cost to outfit a shell into something like that?

Also there seems to be a pushback from clients on open plan offices now. A Harvard study has shown it's making workers less productive.

But an office like the one you've posted, I'd intern there for free, where do I sign up ?

[Marcellus]

If “you’re doing it for the staff/team” why not ask/get the team to design it.?

Set them some boundaries (cost, uses, areas, furniture.?) and see what comes back from them.

[Hashtaggggg]

4x4Tyke said:

Whiteboard walls, use the paint not the small expensive boards, useful in any business environment.

Or speak to someone who can supply large sheets of white board....

[RizzoTheRat]

ooid said:

Forget about beanbags, gadget-gizmos... Layout, light, ventilation (natural and mechanical), and heating arrangement all you need with a proper mini-kitchen





You can also PM me if you need professional help.

How do you deal with noise in there? My first thought looking at that is loud and echoey with open plan and hard surfaces all round to reflect noise rather than absorb it.